Can Southampton make it seven games unbeaten as they welcome Sheffield United to St Mary’s? Get ready for the game with our Match Pack, in association with eToro...
THE MATCH
Southampton v Sheffield United
St Mary’s Stadium
26 July 2020, 4:00pm BST
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Peter Bankes.
Assistants: Marc Perry, Timothy Wood.
Fourth official: Dean Whitestone.
Replacement official: Matthew Lee.
VAR: Jarred Gillett.
Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard.
HOW TO WATCH
You can watch Southampton end the 2019/20 Premier League season on Sky Sports Mix (121) which will require supporters to have either a Sky Sports Subscription or NOWTV pass.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Saints have been one of the in-form sides since the Premier League resumption after collecting 15 points in eight games with just one defeat.
Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side though will come up against one of the surprise packages this season with Sheffield United going against pre-season predictions by sitting in 8th place and narrowly missing out on a place in Europe.
Three points will see Saints jump one place to 11th if Everton fail to beat Bournemouth at Goodison Park but can’t drop any lower than their current position of 12th.
TEAM NEWS
After missing out against Bournemouth, Jan Bednarek is back in contention to start on Sunday as well as full back Yan Valery.
It’s the end of the season though for Sofiane Boufal and Moussa Djenepo who will both miss the clash against Sheffield United.
For the Blades, striker Lys Mousset will not be available with manager Chris Wilder also suggesting changes will be made.
FORM GUIDE
Southampton:
Bournemouth (a) 2-0 (Ings, Adams)
Brighton and Hove Albion (h) 1-1 (Ings)
Manchester United (a) 2-2 (Armstrong, Obafemi)
Everton (a) 0-2 (Ings)
Manchester City (h) 1-0 (Adams)
Sheffield United:
Everton (h) 0-1
Leicester City (a) 0-2
Chelsea (h) 3-0 (McGoldrick x2, McBurnie)
Wolves (h) 1-0 (Egan)
Burnley (a) 1-1 (Egan)
THE MANAGERS
Ralph Hasenhüttl: “What I have seen in the last weeks is the best I’ve seen so far since I’ve been the manager here at this club.
“That is the goal for the weekend: take these three points, with everything we have, and then go unbeaten into the break – that would give us massive self-confidence for next season.”
Chris Wilder: “They beat Manchester City and then go away to Manchester United and get a result. That shows you what the Premier League is all about.
“We want to finish as high as possible and leave it all out there but it’s going to be a tough challenge.”
ONES TO WATCH
Danny Ings: Can our No 9 claim the Golden Boot? It’s been a standout season for the striker as he currently sits on 21 goals, two behind Jamie Vardy.
It will take a big performance to overtake the Leicester striker but the last day of the season can conjure up all sorts of drama.
Dean Henderson: The on-loan goalkeeper has been the last line of defence which has led the Blades to have the joint third best defensive record in the Premier League.
It will be an interesting battle between the keeper and Danny Ings in the latter’s quest for the Golden Boot.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Southampton:
Goals:
Danny Ings 24
Nathan Redmond 5
Stuart Armstrong 5
Assists:
Nathan Redmond 5
James Ward-Prowse 5
Ché Adams 4
Sheffield United:
Goals:
Oli McBurnie 6
Lys Mousset 6
John Fleck 5
Assists:
Enda Stevens 4
Lys Mousset 4
John Lundstram, Billy Sharp, George Baldock 3
HEAD TO HEAD
Played 55
Saints 17
Draw 13
Sheff Utd 25
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
September 2019: Sheffield United 0-1 Saints (Djenepo)
December 2014: Sheffield United 1-0 Saints (League Cup)
February 2009: Saints 1-2 Sheffield United (Surman)
October 2008: Sheffield United 0-0 Saints
May 2008: Saints 3-2 Sheffield United (Saganowski, John x2)
DID YOU KNOW?
- Southampton are unbeaten in their last four Premier League meetings with Sheffield United (W2 D2), though this is the first time they’re hosting them in such a game since a 3-3 draw in October 1993.
- 50% of the Premier League goals Danny Ings has ever scored have been for Southampton this season (21/42). He could become just the second Southampton player to score 10+ goals both home and away in a single Premier League campaign, after Matt Le Tissier in 1993-94.
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